Prep Your House Before a Long Trip

Before you head out on your well-deserved vacation, there are some steps you should take to ensure your home is left in the best possible condition. For safety and peace of mind, follow our suggestions.

Clean

Doing a deep clean of your house may seem daunting while you’re packing and otherwise preparing for a trip, but your future self will thank you! Even if all you have time for is wiping down your countertops and switching your sheets, it will feel nice coming home to a cleaner house.

Check Refrigerator and Trash

There’s nothing worse than coming home to a smelly house. Clean out your refrigerator and throw out anything that won’t be fresh when you return. Depending on when trash collection is in your area, either take out the trash or collect it to leave for a friend or neighbor to easily dispose later.

Be Safe

Consider some extra safety precautions before you leave. Place a hold on your mail, which you can do on USPS.com (https://www.usps.com). Set up an automatic timer for your lights. Park your car in the garage. Double check all windows and doors are locked right before you leave.

Change the Thermostat

When you’re doing a final check before you leave, adjust the thermostat to save on energy costs. If you have a smart device, like ecobee (https://www.ecobee.com) or Nest (https://nest.com), you can adjust on your app.